Yet again I’ve read articles and watched stories by reputable news organizations that refer to horrific acts of hatred around the world as “Islamic extremism” and “Islamic terrorism.”

Now it’s true that many of these mass killings of innocent people are committed by individuals who practice a perverted form of the religion, but not all Muslims are terrorists or even “extreme.” Yet we feel comfortable lumping them all together.

The phrases just aren’t appropriate. What would Christians say if the Spanish Inquisition, the Crusades and the Holocaust were referred to as “Christian extremism” and “Christian terrorism.” Because that’s technically what those events were; a bunch of individuals narrowly interpreting religious documents, and using those interpretations to oppress others and justify killing innocent people.

It’s just ridiculous in a society that puts so much weight on words and religion, that we wouldn’t be cautious about this. But if someone calls Christianity a cult, we’ll sure as hell stand up and tell them they’re wrong.